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greenfield54
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 235
Location: Philippines
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:36 am
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I shoot tabletop only for now. My lighting consists of a single adjustable GN 44 portable strobe(Nissin Di622)and a 50 cm x 50 cm softbox as main light and an old GN28 flash (National) with a stofen diffuser which I converted to fire on new DSLRs (it will fry the cam circuits w/o conversion). But I grew tired of changing/charging batteries so I bought a 300Ws studio strobe and a 50cm x 70cm softbox. I'll use the Nissin for balance flash until I get another studio strobe. Can you guys tell me if I did the right thing? Can you fill me in on the ideal set up and how to use a studio strobe effectively. I don't have a light meter yet. Thanks for any advise.
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:43 am
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| greenfield54 wrote: | | I shoot tabletop only for now. My lighting consists of a single adjustable GN 44 portable strobe(Nissin Di622)and a 50 cm x 50 cm softbox as main light and an old GN28 flash (National) with a stofen diffuser which I converted to fire on new DSLRs (it will fry the cam circuits w/o conversion). But I grew tired of changing/charging batteries so I bought a 300Ws studio strobe and a 50cm x 70cm softbox. I'll use the Nissin for balance flash until I get another studio strobe. Can you guys tell me if I did the right thing? Can you fill me in on the ideal set up and how to use a studio strobe effectively. I don't have a light meter yet. Thanks for any advise. |
PM me with your email address, I have a little something (PDF) that might help:)
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:02 am
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I also forgot to mention that I use for my small stuff a collection of Metz 45GN flashes, and to avoid the battery problem purchased rechageable radio control aircraft battery packs, (essentially 7 "C" cell batteries in a block with a connector). I modified the battery pack, and now can shoot hundreds of images before needing to recharge.
Here is a shot of one of them!
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vclements
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 1998
Location: http://www.vdavidclements.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:34 am
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The softbox is too small, unless you are shooting ants.
I use softboxes that small for hairlights.
The smallest softbox I would go with is 3'x4' (91x122cm).
I would not go any lower than 300 ws.
300ws can give you nice shallow focus, but if you need more power, you can't dial up beyond 300 - in the case of a more powerful strobe you can always dial down.
For example:
I have three 2400ws Speedotron packs (for 7200 ws total), plus numerous monolights.
I did a commercial location product shoot last week where I used all three Speedotron packs and 6 heads. Beyond turning some power down slightly here and there for the desired ratios, I had 1200ws going to each of the 6 heads.
Obviously you do not need all that power if you are not shooting large stuff on location, but in the above example, I could always turn down the power!!
That being said, if you are going the monlight route (vs pack/head), I would say stick to around 600ws per head.
At 600ws/head, you can turn it down if needed, but still have some decent power if needed.
And yes, buy a flashmeter!
I might be giving away my age here...but I still use and swear by the Minolta Flasher III. You can pick them up used for around $100 us (I may actually pick up a couple more and stash them should my current one die)
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:57 am
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I agree with Vince, always better to have too much than to little.
I use Norman, (really showing my age), like Vince have a 4800w/s powperpack, a 2400 ws powerpack, and two 1250 power packs for a total 9600 w/s I have 10 norman heads, each capable of 2000w/s, but needless to asay I don't have the powerpacks to achieve the total capacity. None-the less, I have never needed that much power anyway. In addition I do have a couple of monolights (lower power variety 150W/s), simply to use when I am looking for a lower level fill light that gives me more control than the Normans do.
Like Vince I would advise against using anything less than 300 W/s as it limits your capabilities.
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vclements
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 1998
Location: http://www.vdavidclements.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:07 pm
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Isn't it funny how gear can easily give away age!
Norman,Speedotron,Minolta flashmeters.
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:30 pm
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| vclements wrote: | Isn't it funny how gear can easily give away age!
Norman,Speedotron,Minolta flashmeters. |
LOL! That's a fact! :)
My flash meter is a Wein ! WP500B
You reminded me I should look for another just in case ! LOL
BTW, dont the Speedtron' have an adaptor to use Norman heads and vice versa?
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vclements
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 1998
Location: http://www.vdavidclements.com
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:57 pm
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| jeffbanke wrote: | | vclements wrote: | Isn't it funny how gear can easily give away age!
Norman,Speedotron,Minolta flashmeters. |
LOL! That's a fact! :)
My flash meter is a Wein ! WP500B
You reminded me I should look for another just in case ! LOL
BTW, dont the Speedtron' have an adaptor to use Norman heads and vice versa? |
Yup - Speedotron and Norman were/are quite interchangeable. There are adapters or quick rewires to go either way with heads or packs. Apparently the accessory mounts where quite similar too.
There's quite a bit of used speedotron accessories modded to fit Norman and vice versa.
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greenfield54
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 235
Location: Philippines
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 3:30 am
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| jeffbanke wrote: | I also forgot to mention that I use for my small stuff a collection of Metz 45GN flashes, and to avoid the battery problem purchased rechageable radio control aircraft battery packs, (essentially 7 "C" cell batteries in a block with a connector). I modified the battery pack, and now can shoot hundreds of images before needing to recharge.
Here is a shot of one of them! |
That's brillant! I do a lot of DIY myself being an industrial electrician and instrumentation technician. I have a handful of old GN 20 flashes waiting for conversion and for small lighting requirements. My studio of sorts (also a spare room) is a mere 9 feet x 8 feet. That space has to accomodate my computer, work area and shooting area. Kinda confined huh? It will have to function also for portraits in the future.
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greenfield54
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 235
Location: Philippines
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 3:40 am
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I agree with having too much than too little. I'm an industrial electrician and seen a lot of horrendous explosions and fires due to under rated equipment. But despite the fact of my desire to have too much,there's too little money to spend. The 300ws unit I bought set me back 150 bucks U.S. And it's one of those china made "Haida" brand. Check this link:
http://www.haidaimage.com/display.asp?id=194
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greenfield54
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 235
Location: Philippines
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 3:46 am
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| jeffbanke wrote: | | vclements wrote: | Isn't it funny how gear can easily give away age!
Norman,Speedotron,Minolta flashmeters. |
LOL! That's a fact! :)
My flash meter is a Wein ! WP500B
You reminded me I should look for another just in case ! LOL
BTW, dont the Speedtron' have an adaptor to use Norman heads and vice versa? |
I don't have a flashmeter but my dad gave me his old General Electric lightmeter that is calibrated in units that is no longer used today. And it does not need batteries. Can yo beat that? LOL. I was born in 1954 thus my handle greenfield54. Greenfield translates to the spanish word "rizal" which is also the surname of our national hero Jose P. Rizal.
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:59 am
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| greenfield54 wrote: | I agree with having too much than too little. I'm an industrial electrician and seen a lot of horrendous explosions and fires due to under rated equipment. But despite the fact of my desire to have too much,there's too little money to spend. The 300ws unit I bought set me back 150 bucks U.S. And it's one of those china made "Haida" brand. Check this link:
http://www.haidaimage.com/display.asp?id=194 |
Checked them out they 'look' like any other strobe, I mean as far as features go, etc., so should serve the purpose welll. I don't know anything about the quality or longevity of the tubes, so that would be my only concern. In addition, I would suggest that you buy another strobe tube, as with most modern systems, things change, designs change to sell the latest and greatest, so finding a new strobe tube in a few years might be problematic. Tubes for my old Normans are still available and they are a 30 year old design:)
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:04 am
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| greenfield54 wrote: | | jeffbanke wrote: | | vclements wrote: | Isn't it funny how gear can easily give away age!
Norman,Speedotron,Minolta flashmeters. |
LOL! That's a fact! :)
My flash meter is a Wein ! WP500B
You reminded me I should look for another just in case ! LOL
BTW, dont the Speedtron' have an adaptor to use Norman heads and vice versa? |
I don't have a flashmeter but my dad gave me his old General Electric lightmeter that is calibrated in units that is no longer used today. And it does not need batteries. Can yo beat that? LOL. I was born in 1954 thus my handle greenfield54. Greenfield translates to the spanish word "rizal" which is also the surname of our national hero Jose P. Rizal. |
One thing, light meters and flash meters, although both read light levels, flash meters 'hold' (meaning retain the light level) so that one can read it, while normal light meters generally do not. Flash meters tend also to be faster to respond than do normal light meters.
BTW,
got your PM, and have sent the info via email, it is an 8MB PDF, so I hope that does not present a problem for you!
Enjoy!
Jeff
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greenfield54
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 235
Location: Philippines
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:02 pm
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Thanks Jeff. Got the pdf file intact with no hassle. Thanks.
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jeffbanke
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 7225
Location: www.xlr8photo.com
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Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:28 pm
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| greenfield54 wrote: | | Thanks Jeff. Got the pdf file intact with no hassle. Thanks. |
SKim through it to get an idea of what you want to get out of it, and then go back and read the rest at your leisure:)
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